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White Paper

Adaptation to Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management

in Business Education: A Case Study in Fundação Getulio

Vargas (FGV), Brazil

CENTER FOR SUSTAINABILITY STUDIES AT FUNDAÇÃO GETULIO

VARGAS (GVces / FGV-EAESP)

March, 2016

Authors:

Annelise Vendramini Felsberg

Fernanda Casagrande Rocha

Ligia Ramos

Mariana Xavier Nicolletti

Mario Monzoni Neto

Thaís Camolesi Guimarães

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.fgv.br/ces


Table of Contents

1 Executive Summary........................................................................................................... 3

2 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 3

3 Literature Review .............................................................................................................. 6

4 GVces and Applied Research on Adaptation to Climate Change ..................................... 9

5 Master in Sustainability Management (MSM) ................................................................ 14

6 Recommendations ........................................................................................................... 18

7 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................... 23

8 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 24

9 Appendices ...................................................................................................................... 26

Appendix 1 – FGV Master in Sustainability Management, Subjects and Syllabuses ......... 26

Appendix 2 – Initial exercise comparing the concepts and terminology of disaster risk

management and adaptation to climate change. .................................................................. 29

Appendix 3 – Inputs from MSM´s subjects to the adaptation to climate change planning

Framework that will be implemented in the interdisciplinary activity proposed. ............... 30

List of Figures & Tables

Figure 1 – Matrix to Integrate Sustainability into Management and Business Education ........ 8

Figure 2 – Framework for the Development of Business Agendas in Climate Change

Adaptation ............................................................................................................................... 10

Figure 3 – Inputs and References Considered for the Development of the Framework ......... 11

Figure 4 – EPC’s Work on Adaptation from 2011 to 2015 ..................................................... 13

Figure 5 – Summary of Recommendations ............................................................................. 23

Table 1: Subjects 2005-2008 ................................................................................................... 14

Table 2: Subjects 2009-2016 ................................................................................................... 16




1 Executive Summary

This White Paper presents FGV´s Master in Sustainability Management (MSM), a program

initially offered in 2005, and the recommendations to increase and reinforce the adaptation to

climate change and disaster risk management in the program syllabuses. The program focus on

management issues regarding sustainability. Since inception, its aim has been to demonstrate

the potential of sustainability as a key strategic factor for companies to obtain and maintain

competitive advantage, as well as provide tools for students to evaluate results and identify

sustainability-related risks and opportunities. Recommendations are based on our own research

experience on adaptation and climate change risk within the business sector and on the literature

review on management education and sustainability and disaster risk management.

GVces (an acronym in Brazilian Portuguese for Center for Sustainability Studies) is a

sustainability research center within FGV. The center was founded in 2003 and is a leading

sustainability think-tank in Brazil, dedicated to sustainability issues in corporate and public

contexts. GVces has extensive experience with broad climate change research, including

adaptation. GVces and a group of 25 companies have co-developed a Framework for the

development of business agendas in climate change adaptation. In addition, this group has

developed an Excel-based tool whereby companies can prioritize adaption action plans. This

Framework and Tool can be enhanced with disaster risk management content, and by doing so

they will be included in the MSM syllabuses in order to leverage these themes within the

program. The Framework is also in line with the literature review that suggests that content

originated in research centers and integrated into MBA curricula imply long-term institutional

support, legitimacy and validation for the study area. The Framework and Tool are perfectly

aligned with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and by increasing MSM

participants’ awareness of adaptation and disaster risk management contents, the program will

contribute to the Brazilian efforts towards adaptation to climate change, hopefully reducing

disaster losses due to inaction.

Our recommendations to the MSM are: 1) review the Framework and Tool for business

adaptation strategy, enhancing the content for disaster risk management; 2) incorporate

adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management into the syllabuses of the MSM

through an interdisciplinary and innovative approach, by applying the Framework and Tool for

business adaptation strategy and disaster risk management in a practical exercise. Furthermore,

we have made two additional recommendations to include adaptation and disaster risk

management in FGV´s new program offerings: 3) expand the application of the Framework and

Tool for business adaptation strategy and disaster risk management to other courses; 4) develop

a board game on adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management, in order to

synthetize the main concepts and foster learning through a playful experience.

2 Introduction

Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV – Getulio Vargas Foundation), founded in 1944, is a nonprofit

organization that offers several services to the technical-scientific-business community and the

society as a whole. The business school at FGV has three important accreditations: Association

to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the European Foundation for

Management Development (EFMD) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

The Center for Sustainability Studies (GVces) at FGV was established in 2003 as a reference

in the study of sustainability-related topics within the corporate and public contexts. The

objective of GVces is to provide answers to economic agents to identify, measure and assess

risks and opportunities concerning the environment, social responsibility and corporate




governance. Four lines of action guide its programs: 1) capacity building, 2) research and

knowledge, 3) articulation, and 4) communication and outreach.

Climate change – mitigation and adaptation – is one of the most important research topics at

GVces, which seeks to meet the growing interest of private and public sectors regarding the

risks that climate change poses and potential opportunities still unexplored. GVces initiatives

that relate to climate change are described below:

EPC (Businesses for Climate Platform): Launched in 2009, in partnership with The

Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Network (CLN) For Climate Action, and

supported by its 27 Founding Companies, EPC today counts with the participation of

35 Member Companies and one goal: to mobilize, raise awareness and articulate

business leaderships for GHG emission management and reduction practices, climate

risks management, and to propose public policies and positive incentives related to

climate change in Brazil. The EPC platform engages companies not only with

discussions and actions related to reduction and management of GHG corporate

emissions, but also with the sector’s positioning with regards to climate-related issues

and in building proposals for public policies that can contribute towards a low-carbon

economy in Brazil. Recently, GVces, along with the British Institution UKCIP, under

the Platform, launched a tool to help companies better understand their vulnerabilities

and risks to climate change, and also build an adaptation strategy and plan.

Brazil GHG Protocol Program: In 2008, the GHG Protocol methodology for

corporate greenhouse gas emissions inventories was adapted to the Brazilian context

by GVces and the World Resources Institute (WRI), in partnership with the Ministry

of the Environment, the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development

(CEBDS), the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and

27 Founding Members. The Brazil Program aims at stimulating corporate culture in

order to elaborate and publish GHG emissions inventories, allowing participants

access to tools and international quality standards. It also organizes workgroups with

participating companies for the improvement of the methodology and for the

development of new tools to account for GHG emissions according to the prevalent

reality in Brazil. Currently, approximately 100 companies are participating.

GHG Emissions Public Registry: This is a pioneer online platform in Brazil that

helps organizations to produce and disclose their GHG emissions inventories. Its goal

is to increase transparency in the disclosure of data, establishing sector benchmarks

and sensitizing the public towards the issue of climate change.

The Climate Observatory: GVces is part of the Climate Observatory, a network of

NGOs that aim to discuss advances in climate change policies. The Observatory

promotes meetings with negotiators and articulates with the public sector so that the

Brazilian government takes on its commitments and creates effective public policies

for climate mitigation and adaptation. The network has an important presence at COPs

and in the preparation of documentations for a consistent climate policy in Brazil.

Financial Sector and Climate Change: Over the last few years, GVces has published

several studies on the interaction between the financial sector and climate change. In

2010 and 2011, two studies were published analyzing banks’ strategies and practices

to manage climate change challenges: Privately-Owned Banks and Climate Change,

and Brazilian State-Owned Banks and Climate Change. In 2012, GVces published the

study "How to Advance in the Financing of a Low-Carbon Economy in Brazil”. The

report identifies products and services offered by the financial sector, as well as

government incentives and regulations that support low-carbon practices in the

agriculture and energy sectors, and points the gaps that exist between the supply and

demand of those funds. In early 2014, UNEP (the United Nations Environment

Programme) launched an “Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System”

seeking to discuss innovation in public policies, regulatory framework and successful



http://ces.fgvsp.br/index.php?r=publicacoes/view&id=380

http://ces.fgvsp.br/index.php?r=publicacoes/view&id=380

http://intranet.gvces.com.br/cms/arquivos/pnuma-eng.pdf


international initiatives capable of speeding up the allocation of resources by the

global financial system to the Green Economy.

Supporting Climate-Friendly Public Policies: At the request of the Secretary of the

Environment and supported by UNEP, GVces produced a first draft of the Municipal

Law on Climate Change in Sao Paulo, in partnership with ICLEI – Local Governments

for Sustainability. Also, at the request of the Ministry of Development, Industry and

Trade, GVces developed the technical background papers to support the design of a

Low-Carbon Industry’s Sectorial Plan, which is part of the Climate Change National

Plan.

Green Credit: GVces, in partnership with the British Embassy and the Brazilian

Development Bank (BNDES), developed a tool to promote green credit in Brazil, by

supporting the Brazilian Climate Fund (Fundo Clima) to account for and report GHG

emission reductions from the supported projects. The tool is being used by BNDES as

part of its decision-making process in funding projects under the fund’s six

subprograms, thus assuring that climate and environmental issues are taken into

account.

Among the projects and initiatives mentioned above, GVces has a broad teaching experience

on sustainability and climate change and their connections with business and economics. GVces

is the academic coordinator of two fully operational courses (an undergraduate and a master’s

degree) and two courses that will be launched in August 2016 at FGV. All courses are grounded

on applied research conducted by GVces. These courses are part of a series of initiatives that

responds to FGV´s commitment to PRME – the United Nations Principles for Responsible

Management Education. The PRME were developed in 2007 by an international taskforce to

promote a global engagement platform for academic institutions, setting six principles that lay

the foundation for a global platform for responsible management education. In 2009, FGV

became one of its more than 500 worldwide signatories.

The elective course for undergraduate students is called “FIS – Formação Integrada para a

Sustentabilidade” (Integrated Education for Sustainability). The course is aimed at a practical

sustainability challenge, which is decided based on GVces experience of the relevant

sustainability agenda for the country and corporations operating in Brazil. Therefore, the

sustainability content is driven by an empirical problem. Although a real sustainability

challenge is at the center of the course, the course also aims at challenging participants to see

reality through different perspectives. FIS is a transdisciplinary course and as such its content

explores what is between, across and beyond disciplines. It favors the articulation of

imagination and feelings, experience and tacit knowledge and concepts, theories,

methodologies, contents. Other theories and approaches are used, such as Resilience Theory,

Theory U, and Design Thinking. The learning process is based on a transdisciplinary approach

that favors dialogue among disciplines, different areas of knowledge, academic and non-

academic knowledge, and traditional wisdom. Also, it considers multiple dimensions of reality.

GVces has been academically managing a Master program – the Master in Sustainability

Management (MSM) for more than ten years. The objective of this program is to engage

participants in the sustainability potential as a key strategic factor for achieving and maintaining

competitive advantage in an increasingly globalized environment, as well as providing tools

for participants to evaluate results, identify risks and opportunities.

Furthermore, GVces is academically involved in the development of two other Master’s

degrees at FGV, one at the School of Economics, and the other at the Business Administration

School. The first one, the Professional Master´s degree in Economics (MPE) with emphasis on

Sustainable Development, examines issues regarding environment, society and economy.

Extremely impactful environmental issues to the economy, such as carbon economy,

sustainable project financing and the formulation of public policies will be presented to the

students. The workload includes Mathematics, Statistics, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics,




Public Policies for Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Climate Economy. The

second one, the Professional Master´s degree in Business Administration (MPA) with emphasis

on Sustainable Development, will also involve environmental issues, social responsibility and

corporate strategies in order to achieve sustainable development.

Discussing improvements suggested for the Master in Sustainability Management (MSM),

this White Paper is structured as follows: next section presents a literature review on

management education for sustainability, with particular emphasis on climate change. It also

presents the main theoretical approaches towards climate change as risks for companies as well

as Disaster Risk Management (DRM). Section 4 covers GVces broad research experience with

adaptation to climate change. Section 5 explains in detail the Master in Sustainability

Management (MSM). Section 6 brings our recommendations to increase adaptation and

disaster risk management in MSM based on our broad research experience and on the literature

review. Also, it discusses other recommendations to insert adaptation and disaster risk

management in other FGV courses. Section 7 wraps up with our conclusions.

3 Literature Review

Climate change refers to changes in temperature and precipitation. According to the latest

report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released in full on January

30, 2014, there is no doubt about the occurrence of global warming, and the human influence

has been its dominant cause since 1950 (IPCC, 2013). One of the main problems related to

climate change is that it leads to an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme weather

events, which in turn can lead to disasters.

The impact that an extreme weather event has on society and the environment depends on the

degree of vulnerability and exposure of the system. The greater the magnitude of the impact,

the greater the severity of the disaster. Each decision and action taken by society makes it more

vulnerable or more resilient to disasters (UNISDR, 2016). In this sense, there are two fronts:

mitigation and adaptation. Mitigation seeks less carbon-intensive development paths in order

to avoid and reduce GHG concentrations’ increase in the atmosphere. Adaptation, in turn, seeks

to attenuate the already irreversible effects of climate change on natural and human systems

and influence the socio-economic development towards models and arrangements that are more

resilient. Disaster risk reduction can be part of both fronts, through systematic efforts not only

to analyze and reduce the causal factors of disasters, but also to improve preparedness for

adverse events that are likely to occur due to the irreversible effects of climate change.

Disasters affect the lives of millions of people around the world. In recent decades, those

phenomena have caused the deaths of several million people, and the average annual loss of

life was estimated at 150,000. In addition, financial losses exceed $ 50 billion a year and these

costs do not include losses such as unemployment, mental illness and reduced productivity

(Keller and Blodgett, 2008). Data released by the United Nations (UN) shows that disasters,

only in the twenty-first century, have costed to the global economy the equivalent of Brazil’s

GDP, and the costs in total would reach US$ 2.5 trillion in the first thirteen years of the century

(UNISDR, 2013).

Considering that data, the importance of investing in adaptation becomes clear. Since impacts

occur in various segments of the economy and public policy areas, without observing social,

sectoral or geographic boundaries, adaptation requires the efforts of a wide range of actors,

including multilateral organizations, governments, local communities, scientists, companies,

civil society organizations, among others. In this context, the private sector has great potential

to contribute to this agenda: whether in a broader context, in which it generates business value

through the provision of knowledge and resources to society, or by developing their own

adaptation strategies to manage risks and opportunities to business.




Disasters can seriously undermine business competitiveness and longer-term economic

sustainability. Companies are affected by disaster-related direct losses to their assets and

indirect losses in their supply chain, causing a fall in output and revenue, which affects

profitability. Additionally, considering the context of globally integrated economies, wider

impacts and macroeconomic effects also affect business. Considering that global trade,

financial markets and supply chains have become increasingly interconnected, local disasters’

impacts are not felt only in the company’s own operation, but they also ripple through regional

and global supply chains (UNISDR, 2013). A survey on global risk management in 2015 has

shown that disaster risk is listed as the eighteenth most important risk out of the top 50, and as

the ninth most important driver strengthening risk management (Aon Risk Solutions, 2015).

Considering that, in most economies, 70-85% of overall investments are made by the private

sector, it is possible to understand that private investment largely determines disaster risk.

Because of this, both regulators and investors are increasingly demanding that businesses

disclose their hidden risks, which includes disaster risks (UNISDR, 2013). Thus, it is relevant

for businesses to invest in disaster risk management.

If, on one hand, businesses are increasingly concerned with disaster-related direct and indirect

losses that affect their profitability, on the other hand, disaster risk management can also be a

business opportunity. Companies are starting to recognize it and invest in the development of

products and services – such as new crop-insurance products and more resilient infrastructures

–, which leads to the expansion of existing markets and also the creation of new markets

(UNISDR, 2013).

The four priority steps brought by the "Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction" help

companies design a disaster risk management strategy (UNISDR, 2015):

Priority 1. Understanding disaster risk: Disaster risk management should be based

on an understanding of disaster risk in all its dimensions of vulnerability, capacity,

exposure of persons and assets, hazard characteristics and the environment. Such

knowledge can be used for risk assessment, prevention, mitigation, preparedness and

response.

Priority 2. Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk. Disaster risk governance at the national, regional and global levels is very important

for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and rehabilitation. It

fosters collaboration and partnership.

Priority 3. Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience. Public and private

investment in disaster risk prevention and reduction through structural and non-

structural measures are essential to enhance the economic, social, health and cultural

resilience of persons, communities, countries and their assets, as well as the

environment.

Priority 4. Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build

Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. The growth of disaster

risk means there is a need to strengthen disaster preparedness for response, take action

in anticipation of events, and ensure capacities are in place for effective response and

recovery at all levels. The recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction phase is a critical

opportunity to build back better, including through integrating disaster risk reduction

into development measures.

In this context, “embedding disaster risk management in business processes is increasingly seen

as a key to resilience, competitiveness and sustainability in an increasingly unpredictable

world” (UNISDR, 2013, p. viii). Thus, considering the risks and opportunities that climate

change – and more specifically disasters – represent to business, it is essential that business

schools help prepare managers to deal with this critical sustainability issue. Therefore, it is

extremely important to include that topic in management education.




Sustainability in management education, in general, is a recent phenomenon (Rands and Starik,

2009) that began around 1990. Over the past years and especially in the past decade, attention

to business sustainability has expanded and various studies have been published on how to

integrate sustainability into business and management education (Rusinko, 2010). The way a

business school is going to address sustainability depends on what it considers to be strategic

(Lindgren et al., 2006; Scott and Gough, 2006), so it is important to consider the institution’s

goals, resource constrains and also the best approach to start with.

Literature recommendations for sustainability’s integration into business and management

education include:

Sustainability needs to be integrated both into management education and across the

business school (Rusinko and Sama, 2009).

The three dimensions of sustainable development (environmental, social and

economic) should be addressed simultaneously, not separately (UNESCO, 2004).

Both curricular and co-curricular engagement is important, once co-curricular options

for sustainability allow students the opportunity for additional experiential and applied

learning outside the classroom (Ahren, 2009).

Sustainability can be integrated not only within and across disciplines (Shriberg, 2002),

but also beyond the management discipline, into a broader business curriculum

(Steketee, 2009).

To assist in the effective integration of sustainability into management and business education,

Rusinko (2010) proposes a matrix of options to its implementation: through existing structures

or by creating new structures, and through discipline-specific focus or cross-disciplinary focus.

Figure 1 – Matrix to Integrate Sustainability into Management and Business Education

Source: Rusinko, 2010.

The Matrix is divided into four quadrants. In the first one, existing structures do not suffer

changes, and sustainability comes punctually in disciplines as a topic, case or module. It is an

introductory/ trial approach to sustainability. In the second quadrant, a new structure is created,

such as a sustainability topic within an existing course. This option distinguishes discipline

with respect to sustainability. The third one relates to the theme’s integration into existing

structures, but in a cross-disciplinary manner. For example: each discipline of an existing




course starts to include discussions on sustainability issues within its analyzed content. Here,

sustainability is a priority across disciplines. Finally, in the fourth quadrant, the integration of

sustainability occurs through new structures, but with a broader, cross-disciplinary focus. In

this option, sustainability is integrated across two or more business disciplines and can include

non-academic stakeholders, and it is especially relevant for business schools that consider

sustainability’s integration across the curriculum as a strategic goal.

Concerning the integration of ethics, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in

MBA curricula, Christensen et al. (2007) has shown that from the top 50 global business

schools rated by the Financial Times in their 2006 Global MBA rankings, 84.1% of the schools

that responded require students to take courses that address one or all of these topics. It is also

interesting to note that 65.9% of the respondent schools have a research center connected to

these topics, which was considered by the authors as a level of investment in the topic beyond

that implied by curriculum content requirements. Research centers imply long-term

institutional support, legitimacy and validation for the study area.

Although sustainability has gained attention, it is usually addressed decoupled from economic

performance, strategic decisions and day-to-day business operations. Thus, integration is one

of the greatest challenges faced by business schools concerning the incorporation of

sustainability into management education (Russell, 2006). Disaster risk management is still

largely ignored in businesses’ economic forecasts and growth projections (United Nations,

2013), which reinforces the role of business management education to integrate the topic into

its courses and disciplines, so that managers can be prepared to deal with this critical issue.

Nevertheless, beyond formal education, companies are preparing to deal with climate change

and disaster risk through informal learning processes, such as social learning. This process is

described as “a change in understanding that goes beyond the individual to become situated

within wider social units or communities of practice through social interactions between actors

within social networks” (Reed et al., 2010, p.5). Therefore, informal learning processes – in

which a multi-stakeholder dialogue and collective learning processes occur, prompting future

leaders to spread the theme in their companies – can complement formal business management

education.

4 GVces and Applied Research on Adaptation to Climate Change

GVces has been actively engaging with governments, businesses and civil society organizations

to foster the adaptation agenda in Brazil. Since 2011, the theme Adaptation has been part of the

Business for Climate Platform (EPC) agenda, a network composed of 35 multinational

companies aimed to mobilize business leaders to manage and reduce GHG emissions, manage

climate risks and propose public policies on climate change. In an international workshop in

2011, EPC’s member companies were invited to debate adaptation: main concepts and the

strategic importance of the subject, the role of private sector, and to pilot a real case. Since then,

EPC has been fostering the adaptation agenda, promoting discussions and practices with its

members.

The urgency of the adaptation agenda became clear at COP 17, held in 2011, in Durban.

Although it also became clear that its relevance would increase dramatically in the following

years, the top players in this agenda were not ready to invest and engage. That was the case of

the private sector – not only in Brazil – which believed that adaptation was restricted to policy

making and represented only losses that should be avoided or responded by governments.

Favorable national and international contexts motivated EPC to initiate a consistent work in

adaptation to climate change. The Brazilian Ministry of the Environment (MMA) was drafting




the National Adaptation Plan1, and GVces became a partner providing technical background.

As an example, we researched motivations, barriers and elements to foster the engagement of

private sector companies on adaptation. It became clear that EPC should assist companies on

understanding which climate impacts are material and what are the risks and opportunities they

represent for business. Furthermore, access to financial resources to face the impacts from

climate change, reducing vulnerabilities and increasing resilience, especially in developing

countries, is one of the greatest challenges of the adaptation agenda.

Responding to that context, The Latin America Adaptation to Climate Change Forum, held at

FGV on July 26, 2013, brought together more than 150 representatives of the private sector,

governments and civil society organizations. From the presentations about concepts, initiatives

and case studies, a collective Framework emerged, with the steps that should be followed by

companies in order to elaborate consistent business strategies on adaptation. Moreover, the

Forum stimulated participants to create a network to exchange experiences, particularly in Latin

America.

In 2014, with the support of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and based

on the Latin America Adaptation Forum’s outcomes, EPC held three workshops. It also created

a working group with 25 of its member companies to co-build the Framework2, which brings a

step-by-step process to support the elaboration of corporate strategies for climate change

adaptation.

Figure 2 – Framework for the Development of Business Agendas in Climate Change Adaptation

Source: EPC

The Framework is divided into three stages. The first stage – diagnosis – aims to access the

internal (e.g. organization’s culture, processes) and external (e.g. past climatic events, present

and future regulations) context of the company, as well as map and prioritize climate risks and

opportunities for the organization. The second stage – plan – involves an action plan to respond

to priority risks and opportunities. This stage should include actions and priority investments,

deadlines and targets. Finally, the third stage – implementation – involves monitoring, feedback

and communication to stakeholders. Thus, by following the steps presented in the cycle, the

1 To be launched in 2016. A public consultation is in progress and the draft of the PNA can be found here: http://www.mma.gov.br/clima/adaptacao/plano-nacional-de-adaptacao. 2 Available at: <http://mediadrawer.gvces.com.br/epc/original/framework_a-path-to-elaborate-business-agendas-for-adaption-to-climate-change.pdf>.



http://www.mma.gov.br/clima/adaptacao/plano-nacional-de-adaptacao

http://mediadrawer.gvces.com.br/epc/original/framework_a-path-to-elaborate-business-agendas-for-adaption-to-climate-change.pdf

http://mediadrawer.gvces.com.br/epc/original/framework_a-path-to-elaborate-business-agendas-for-adaption-to-climate-change.pdf


actions taken occur in a systemic and cyclical way, inserted in the business reality and in the

environmental strategy adopted by the company.

To support the Framework implementation, EPC also designed, with this working group, the

Tool for Business Adaptation Strategies3. Both products were co-developed and improved

through an interactive and wealthy process with EPC members, who had different opportunities

to learn, use and comment on the EPC Framework and Tool.

Studies and tools of the United Kingdom’s Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), such as

UKCIP Wizard and AdaptME toolkit, essentially inspired the Tool’s elaboration. In addition,

there were talks with INCAE Business School on their “Herramienta de Identificación de

Riesgos, Oportunidades y Acciones de Adaptación al Cambio Climático”, a tool developed by

them.

Many other references were consulted during the process, for example: the “Australian

Government Guide on Risk Assessment” helped to develop a risk matrix, while the “AS ANZS”

was useful to evaluate opportunities, and the “Adaptation Scotland” contributed to the step of

monitoring the adaptation strategy.

The figure below shows all the inputs considered for the development of each one of the Tool’s

steps.

Figure 3 – Inputs and References Considered for the Development of the Framework

Source: EPC

From 2014 to 2015, five companies applied EPC’s business adaptation Tool: Boticario Group,

Braskem, CCR Group, the Brazilian National Steel Company (Companhia Siderúrgica

Nacional), and Suzano Pulp and Paper. Four of these five companies have published their cases,

which are briefly described below:

3 Available at: <http://mediadrawer.gvces.com.br/epc/original/ferramenta_epc_versao-1-1_ing_final.xls>.



http://mediadrawer.gvces.com.br/epc/original/ferramenta_epc_versao-1-1_ing_final.xls

http://mediadrawer.gvces.com.br/epc/original/ferramenta_epc_versao-1-1_ing_final.xls


The Boticario Group produces and distributes personal care products, cosmetics and

perfume items. Motivated by historical weather events impacts on its sales points and

service centers, the Group sought to develop an adaptation strategy. The analysis

covered four Brazilian states vulnerable to flooding, with a time horizon of 2050.

Different challenges were faced during the project, such as the access to climate

information, lack of internal database on costs and investments and articulation with

stakeholders. One of the most important results achieved by the Group was the

composition of a multidisciplinary team to participate in the process, and the exchange

of experiences with other member companies of EPC. Finally, the pilot project helped

the Group to understand that following the steps of an action plan is important to the

quality of the final product, and that the method and the Tool applied are also valid for

activities within the company.

Braskem, a company in the chemical and petrochemical sector producer of

thermoplastic resins, also chose to develop an adaptation strategy. In order to mitigate

risks and exploit opportunities arisen from changes in climate events and to systematize

and incorporate climate variables into planning and risk management, the company

analyzed its plants in Brazil, the United States and Germany, with a time horizon of

2040. During the process, some challenges were found: the engagement of teams from

various areas, long-term planning, obtaining climate scenarios and connecting them

with business decision making. Because of the process, the company has incorporated

climate variables into their risk management process and has been articulating with key

stakeholders to foster this agenda. An important lesson learned in the process was that

adaptation actions, unlike mitigation, depend on collaboration with other stakeholders,

requiring collective work, from data collection to implementation and monitoring.

The CCR Group, one of the largest infrastructure concession companies in the world,

has chosen to develop an adaptation strategy in order to reduce operating costs due to

impacts from possible climatic events, and also to identify new business opportunities.

Due to the increasing number of engineering projects for maintenance and preservation

of heritage, resulting from damages due to weather events, the Group chose to analyze

CCR Barcas and CCR Via Lagos concessionaries, both located in Rio de Janeiro. A

major challenge, which was also the main result of the adaptation strategy

development, was the process of beginning to internalize the climate risks analyses,

thanks to training in the subject and involvement of various company areas.

Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), a large steel company in Brazil, decided to

develop an adaptation strategy to be prepared to manage risks and opportunities arising

from climate change associated with the use of water resources, since steel production

is an industrial activity that requires large water use. The scope considered was the

Vargas President Steel Plant, located in Rio de Janeiro, considering the time horizon

of 2040. A major challenge of the project was to start building a long-term planning,

taking into account the inherent uncertainties of climate projections, as well as

information collection, such as the estimated costs of climate change impacts and

adaptation measures. The main result obtained was the identification of adaptation

measures, with the inclusion of the climatic variable in the company's new projects and

in the monitoring of existing projects. The main lesson learned was the importance of

the employee’s engagement and the integration of different areas inside the company.

Thus, by following the steps proposed by the Tool, companies are able to organize and

systematize information to better understand which climate change impacts are material, what

risks and opportunities they represent for business, and to elaborate an action plan to avoid or

mitigate major risks and develop opportunities.

In 2015, GVces worked on the “Economy-Wide Adaptation to Climate Change” project, which

was developed with the support of the British Embassy, in partnership with the Brazilian

Ministry of the Environment (MMA) and the United Kingdom Climate Impacts Programme

(UKCIP). The project purpose was to assist Brazil to improve its National Adaptation Policy




and to implement adaptation measures reducing climate vulnerabilities in the public and private

sectors.

To contribute to this goal, the “Business Adaptation Framework” and the “Tool for Business

Adaptation Strategies” were reviewed and new versions of these documents were launched,

considering the feedback from companies and partners and the extensive experience of UKCIP.

Moreover, a new material was attached to the Tool: the engagement toolkit with presentations

and dynamics that can be used to mobilize collaborators and stakeholders. Three new pilot

projects were developed with the companies Amaggi, Copel and CSN.

The figure below shows a summary of all information brought about the work that EPC has

been developing on adaptation, in a timeline from 2011 to 2015.

Figure 4 – EPC’s Work on Adaptation from 2011 to 2015

Source: EPC

Complementarily, due to the relevance of civil society organizations working with vulnerable

communities and ecosystems, the importance of supporting these organizations in mapping and

managing climate risk became clear. Thus, a working group was created with eight civil society

organizations, namely: Engajamundo, Boticario Group Foundation, Habitat for Humanity

Brazil, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), Amazon Institute for Environmental

Research (IPAM), Research Society for Wildlife and Environmental Education (SPVS), World

Resources Institute (WRI), and World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF).

Based on EPC’s business Tool, UKCIP’s experience, academic research and the eight civil

society organization’s expertise, four products were developed, in a co-construction process

with the working group: a Framework, a Tool and tutorial videos to support the development

of adaptation strategies for civil society, and an exercise for engagement, called “Climate

Game”.

Reasons abound not only for governments, but also for companies and civil society

organizations to get involved with the adaptation agenda. On one hand, climate change presents

risks to the business and interferes with the ability of organizations to develop their work

effectively. On the other hand, opportunities are also relevant to business competitiveness and

to improve the organizations’ essential support to their stakeholders.




However, there are challenges faced by the business sector and civil society organizations in

order to draw consistent adaptation strategies, integrate adaptation into their existing strategic

plans, as well as practical considerations such as access to climate projections data. Thus, it is

important to disseminate ways to develop a business or organizational adaptation plan, and to

reinforce the idea that challenges are not a reason for inaction, as well as to inspire other

companies and civil society organizations with real examples of successful implemented

solutions.

In 2016, GVces will work with the Ministry of the Environment to design the governance of

the Brazilian National Adaptation Plan.

In this context, the academia and formal education have a key role in preparing managers to

advance in this agenda, strengthening the contribution of the business sector for the

implementation of national adaptation plans.

5 Master in Sustainability Management (MSM)

To respond to current environmental, economic and social challenges, governments and

companies have been seeking professionals able to understand and deal with sustainability

global challenges, ready to expand and accelerate the adoption of practices and strategies that

incorporate sustainability attributes. Acknowledging the importance and urgency of the

education of these professionals, the Center for Sustainability Studies at Getulio Vargas

Foundation (FGV-EAESP) began offering, in 2005, a lato sensu post-graduation course,

focusing on management issues regarding sustainability.

Since its inception, the aim of the course has been to demonstrate the potential of sustainability

as a key strategic factor for obtaining and maintaining competitive advantage, as well as

providing tools for students to evaluate results, identify risks and opportunities.

Students of the Master in Sustainability Management generally hold middle management

positions in companies and non-governmental organizations and come from different

backgrounds, such as Journalism, Media, Marketing, Law, Biology, Business Administration,

Economics, Engineering and Environmental Management. In order to join the course, it’s

necessary to have a minimum work experience of four years, interest in the area of

management, oral communication and writing skills, and good understanding of written

English.

Between 2005 and 2008 the course was offered as a continuing education program and subjects

were organized into four sequential modules, totalizing 360 contact hours. Module 1 was about

the sustainability bases, modules 2 and 3 focused on sustainability and management issues and,

finally, module 4 was about advanced sustainability issues. All modules relied on subjects that

addressed environmental, economic and social issues, as well as cross-cutting themes of

sustainability, such as corporate governance. Once the modules were completed, students had

to submit a final research report, demonstrating the application of accumulated knowledge in a

structured, systematic and analytical way, supported by scientific method and proper

bibliographic references. Yet, through a partnership between FGV-EAESP and the École des

Hautes Études Commerciales de Paris (HEC), students could go for an exchange semester in

France in the Master Management du Développement Durable, an exclusive program for post-

degree in sustainability.

The table below shows the four sequential modules and their respective subjects:

Table 1: Subjects 2005-2008

MODULE 1 MODULE 2 MODULE 3 MODULE 4




Sustainability

Bases

Sustainability

and

Management I

Sustainability

and

Management

II

Advanced

Sustainability

Issues

Subjects

Context: Business

and Sustainable

Development

Strategic

Management

The Natural

Step

Education for

Sustainability

Business Social

Aspects

Company's

Relationship

Management with

its Various

Stakeholders

Corporate

Governance

Marketing

Economic and

Financial Aspects

From

Environmentalism

to Sustainability

in Business

Long-Term

Economic and

Financial

Management

Economy and

Environment

Environment,

Work

Relationships and

Trade

Organizational

Transformation

Environmental

Business

Management

Research

Methodology

Source: Authors

In order to conform to international quality standards, from 2009 on the course was offered in

a master degree format, abandoning the division by modules and extending its hours from 380

contact hours to 484 contact hours. In its current format, the 18 course subjects are distributed

around three thematic axes – environmental, economic and social – and around a transverse

axis, consisting of subjects that cross and connect the themes, contributing to an integrated

vision of sustainability. Still, once the disciplines are taken, students must deliver a final

research report. Table 2 shows the above-mentioned axes and the subjects that are part of these

axes:




Table 2: Subjects 2009-2016

THEMATIC AXES

ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMIC SOCIAL

SUBJECTS

Economy and

Environment

Public Policy and

Climate Change

Environmental Business:

from Environmentalism

to Sustainability in

Business

Integrated Management

Systems of Corporate

Sustainability

Economy and

Environment

Concepts in

Accounting

Controllership

Strategic

Management

Sustainable Finance

and Impact

Investment

Corporate

Governance

Stakeholder

Engagement and

Value Chain

Local Development

Consumption and

Marketing

TRANSVERSE AXIS

SUBJECTS

State of the World and Answers in the Legal and Institutional Fields

Context: Business and Sustainable Development

Sustainability and Strategy

Systemic Thinking

Research Methodology

Negotiation Workshop

Source: Authors

The subjects presented in Table 1 show that the issue of climate change is addressed in the

transverse axis and in the environmental and economic axes, strengthening its relevance to the

sustainability agenda. This theme is emphasized in the Master in Sustainability Management

because we understand that the rapprochement between scientific knowledge on climate change

and decision-making processes within public and private policies is crucial in order to build a

development model in which environmental and social agendas are as relevant as the economic

agenda.

The issue of climate change is introduced in the Master in Sustainability Management through

the transverse axis, in the subject State of the World and Answers in the Legal and Institutional

Fields, which aims to understand the role of public and private actors in setting normative

standards on sustainable development at the global level, as well as current socioenvironmental

impact management methodologies embedded in international standards of corporate social and

environmental responsibility. The syllabus of the course provides details on the topics:

"Presentation of the main current environmental issues. It is intended to demonstrate

the relationship between different economic cycles, the use of natural resources,

impacts on society and the environment, and major challenges facing humanity to

ensure the maintenance and improvement of quality of life, in developed or developing

countries. It lists the set of legal and institutional responses at the multilateral level to

address these challenges. International conventions and treaties on environment,

human rights and labor relations are presented in evolution, as well as their




incorporation into the Brazilian legal framework. Finally, the subject relates social and

environmental issues to international trade". (Course syllabus)

In the environmental axis, the issue of climate change is addressed in two subjects: Public

Policy and Climate Change, and Environmental Management: From Environmentalism to

Sustainability in Business. In the first subject, there is a focused approach in public policies

designed to respond to the challenges created by climate change, as indicated in the syllabus:

"The course includes studies of the main problems related to climate change at the international

and national level, focusing on the interface between economic development, mitigation and

adaptation to climate change and the key challenges and responses generated in the field of

public policy”. Still, specifically, this subject covers the following topics: i) international legal

regulations on climate change; ii) National Policy on Climate Change; iii) carbon pricing; iv)

sectoral plans on climate change; v) adaptation to climate change; and vi) payment for

environmental services.

Environmental Management: from Environmentalism to Sustainability in Business presents

practices, procedures and management processes used by companies to minimize or eliminate

the adverse effects caused by their activities on the environment, as indicated in the syllabus:

"The course introduces environmental concepts necessary for the full understanding

of corporate environmental management, such as natural resources, biodiversity,

ecosystems, environmental services and pollution. It shows the development of

environmental strategies in business organizations, their motivating factors and trends.

Key approaches and environmental management tools in companies will be studied,

analyzing their potential, weaknesses and major gaps in relation to sustainability

management. The following topics will be addressed: i) the environmental impact

assessment (EIA); ii) inventories of pollution sources (including greenhouse gases); iii)

ecological footprint and derivatives (water footprint, forest footprint, carbon footprint);

iv) life cycle analysis (LCA); v) eco-efficiency, pollution prevention, cleaner

production (CP), industrial ecology; and vi) environmental management systems".

(Course syllabus)

Connecting the environmental and economic axes, Economy and Environment subject explores

the climate change issue from an economic perspective, generating reflections on the

relationship between the environment and the economic systems. According to the syllabus of

the course: “Analysis of the relationship between the environment and the economic system,

based on neoclassical environmental economics and the green economy. Reflection on the main

differences and limitations of these approaches. Introduction and discussion of relevant issues

in the discussions on economy and environment, for example, environmental policy

instruments (instruments of direct regulation and economic instruments) and the mechanisms

of environmental management that incorporate economic incentives”.

In the economic axis, the subject Sustainable Finance and Impact Investment introduces a

discussion about the risks of climate change to investors and insurance companies, as presented

in the syllabus: “discussion of the impacts generated by financial institutions in society and

examination of how sustainability affects financial institutions, investors and creditors.

Historical aspects and a motion analysis in financial institutions in Brazil and abroad, the risks

hanging over the banking sector, with special emphasis on the Equator Principles and

environmental policies. Discussions about the economic value of socially responsible

investments and benchmarks are also included”.

From the analysis of the syllabuses, in the Master in Sustainability Management, climate

change is explored and discussed from different perspectives, offering students a solid

background on the subject. However, there is room to improve climate risk management,

adaptation and disaster risk management in greater depth. Adaptation demands an




interdisciplinary approach, but, more than that, the strengthening of leadership, communication

and mobilization skills of the team leading this agenda within the organizations – a process

which GVces has been accessing, studying and promoting especially on its Integrated

Education for Sustainability (FIS) initiative.

GVces can bring to the classroom the results of our research on adaptation. Adaptation is a

complex matter and requires long-term view, dealing with uncertainty and knowledge from a

great diversity of subjects. It is a good example of a “wicked problem”4. However, there is no

specific focus on adaptation to climate change in the Master in Sustainability Management. The

next section will present our recommendations to improve that.

6 Recommendations

This section presents recommendations to mainstream adaptation to climate change and disaster

risk management in the Master in Sustainability Management (MSM). The aim is to: i) promote

discussions on theoretical concepts and methods related to these themes in the classroom; ii)

consider the matter in all its dimensions (anticipatory and responsive adaptation, smooth and

disruptive changes in weather patterns, different categories of risks and impacts); iii) make clear

the materiality of these themes for businesses; and iv) foster systemic view and interdisciplinary

approach.

Our recommendation is based on GVces research on adaptation to climate change mentioned

in Section 4, particularly on the work developed with 25 multinational companies, under the

Business for Climate Platform (EPC) since 2014. As presented in Section 4, those companies

composed a working group that co-created, with GVces technical support and coordination, a

Framework and a Tool for the elaboration of business strategies on adaptation.

This experience is the basis of our recommendations because it proved to be successful in

preparing managers to undertake leadership on adaptation to climate change agendas within

their companies. These are the reasons:

It enabled a “community of practice”5 that facilitated the exchange of knowledge

among participants and fostered self-confidence to lead adaptation planning

process in their companies (Barack & Campos, in progress)6.

It promoted change in the perception of the professionals involved about the theme:

the participants reported that, by understanding adaptation, they could better assess

the business materiality of the subject (Barack & Campos, in progress).

It made it clear that stakeholder engagement is key: internal stakeholders as well

as local governments, community organizations and the supply chain – for the

elaboration of a comprehensive strategy and, especially, for its implementation

(GVces, 2015).

It enabled an environment for peer learning and learning from practice (Barack &

Campos, in progress);

4 A “wicked problem” is characterized by three aspects: social complexity, uncertainty, and complexity of its

statement. “Surprises, fluctuating conditions, sudden changes and irreducible uncertainties are fundamental

aspects of wicked problems” (Termeer, Dewulf & Breeman, 2013: 28-29).

5 The community of practice can be defined as “groups of people who share a concern, a set of problems, or a

passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise in this area by interacting on an ongoing

basis” (Wenger, McDermott, & Snyder, 2002, p.4). 6 Based on the paper in progress “Social Learning for Adaptation to Climate Change: Evidence from a

Community of Practice” (Barakat & Campos, in progress) elaborated from interviews with nine companies that

took part in EPC adaptation working group.




The process generated information and intermediary results that were effective in

raising the interest of the companies’ higher management level in adaptation,

showing that the agenda is material for the business7 (GVces, 2015).

Moreover, EPC´s Framework is aligned to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’s

four priority steps (UNISDR, 2015). Therefore, our recommendation to mainstream adaptation

and disaster risk management in the MSM consists of the following three components:

Recommendation 1. Review EPC Framework and Tool for Business Adaptation Strategy,

improving it and strengthening the content of disaster risk management.

The first step is to improve EPC´s Framework and Tool, incorporating theoretical concepts,

metrics and examples related to disaster risk management. An initial exercise comparing the

concepts and terminology of both areas, adaptation and disaster risks, was made and is

summarized in Appendix 2. Based on it, changes will be implemented in the following steps of

the Tool for elaboration of business adaptation strategies:

1. Diagnosis

– Step 1.2 (A) | A table to record how climate events are affecting the company –

eventual historical disasters will be included here.

- Step 1.3 (A) | Potential impacts for the companies in the short-, medium- and

long-terms – disasters forecasted based on climate scenarios will be identified

here.

- Step 1.3 (B) | Evaluation of the risks identified previously – the risks of the

disasters identified previously will be qualified and prioritized in this step.

2. Planning

- Step 2.1 | Extensive mapping of adaptation options – possible adaptation

measures to build resilience and mitigate risk of disasters will be listed here.

- Step 2.3 | Map of agreements, partnerships and funds to be raised – considering

also the potential disasters identified and the adaptation measures related to them,

the stakeholders to engage and partners will be pointed out.

3. Implementation

- Step 3.1 | Development of the indicators and metrics to monitor the measures and

actions of the adaptation plan – it will include indicators and metrics related to

the mitigation and management of disaster risks.

- Step 3.3 | Elaboration of a communication plan focused on the achieved results –

here the losses avoided and the co-benefits achieved with the adaptation measures

implemented will be recorded.

4. General

- Examples that are presented in all steps of the Tool will include common or

forecasted disasters in Brazil.

- Glossary, aligning with the “Terminology” presented in PreventionWeb8,

bibliography and additional instructions.

Recommendation 2. Incorporate adaptation to climate change in the syllabus of the MSM

through an interdisciplinary and innovative approach considering the recommendations for

sustainability integration in business and management education (Rusinko, 2010).

7 Braskem and CCR cases on adaptation exemplify this statement. Braskem developed a plan considering the

two major risk categories for its business, presented the results to the Vice-President and all directors and is

expanding the process, inserting other risk categories. After elaborating the adaptation plan for two business

units, CCR is adding adaptation to the company strategic planning (for further information, please visit:

http://adaptacao.gvces.com.br). 8 http://www.preventionweb.net/risk. Website visited on March 14, 2016.



http://adaptacao.gvces.com.br/

http://www.preventionweb.net/risk


As presented in Section 5, MSM is consolidated at FGV. Around 20 professionals per year, of

different business backgrounds, have attended this course for the last ten years. Reinforcing

adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management in the syllabus of the course presents

an opportunity to strengthen the course. Adaptation is essentially an interdisciplinary subject

and requires the articulation among areas and stakeholders. Based on our research experience

and on the literature recommendations on how to integrate sustainability into business and

management education, Recommendation 2 is composed by two key steps:

i. Reinforce adaptation and disaster risks content in the disciplines that already cover climate

change since the first semester, which, as presented in Session 5, are:

State of the World and Answers in the Legal and Institutional Fields | transverse axis

Economy and Environment | Environment and Economy axis

Sustainability Strategy | transverse axis

Public Policies and Climate Change | Environment axis

Environmental Management: From Environmentalism to Sustainability in Business |

Environment axis

Sustainable Finance and Impact Investment | Economy axis.

ii. Structure and implement, as part of the MSM syllabus, a new semiannual activity regarding

adaptation and disaster risk management with a strong practical approach, which will apply

concepts and information discussed in several other disciplines.

This interdisciplinary activity will be composed of:

a) Conceptual and program introduction in a four-hour class. We will present and

debate:

Concepts of adaptation and risk of disasters, national and international history

of the agenda and its relevance for the business sector.

The Framework and Tool for elaboration of business strategies on adaptation

will be introduced to the students in this class.

Case of a company that has implemented the Framework and is implementing

an action plan on adaptation.

The program and the activities planned for the semester.

b) Development of business adaptation plans in groups throughout the semester:

Organized in groups, the students will choose one company per group for

which the adaptation strategy will be developed.

The groups will run through the EPC Framework, step by step, following the

semester working plan:

i. They will study and apply, to fill out the EPC Tool, concepts from most

disciplines of the course, not just those that discuss climate change, but

especially:

o Integrated Systems of Sustainability Management

o Concepts in Accounting

o Controllership

o Strategy Management

o Corporate Governance

o Stakeholders and Value Chain Management

o Local Development

o Sustainability Strategy.

ii. Gather information in the company, with different collaborators, and in

the field, with company’s stakeholders.

iii. Debate, make decisions and record the process.




Although each group will draw their specific working plan in the beginning of the

process, they may stick to the following general timeline:

Step1 | Diagnosis – 2 months

Step 2 | Planning – 2 months

Step 3.1 | Actions and monitoring – 1.5 month

During the semester, the EPC Tool will be the foundation for the work, supporting

the implementation of the Framework and recording information, discussions and

decisions.

At the end of the semester, they will consolidate the adaptation plan and the

recommendations for its implementation.

c) Presentation of the adaptation plans in the final class and in the companies:

A final class will be dedicated to the presentation and debate of the adaptation and

disaster risk management plans developed by the groups.

Groups will present and debate the plans and the recommendations in a meeting

with internal and external stakeholders of the companies.

Appendix 3 presents examples of concepts discussed in 12 subjects of the Executive Master’s

degree that are important inputs for EPC Framework.

Through the implementation of this proposal component, the four recommendations presented

in literature (Rusinko, 2010) will be addressed, notably the work on the three dimensions of

sustainable development (Unesco, 2004), curricular and co-curricular engagement (Ahren,

2009) and sustainability integration within, across and beyond the management discipline

(Shriberg, 2002 and Steketee, 2009).

Recommendations 3 and 4 are not aimed at the Master in Sustainability Management (MSM),

but to new courses FGV is launching.

Recommendation 3. Systematize the experience and lessons learned and expand the project

to the Professional Master in Sustainability (MPA), to be launched in August 2016.

Once the proposal is implemented and tested in MSM, the plan is to adjust and replicate it to

the new course, MPA. Also, there is the potential to expand the application of EPC´s adaptation

tool to other post-graduation programs at FGV.

Recommendation 4. Develop a board game on adaptation to climate change and disaster risk

management based on the academic program, in order to condense the key concepts and foster

learning through a playful experience.




In an effort to disseminate complex concepts and foster the discussion and reflection on

sustainability subjects, GVces has been developing different learning tools. Board game is one

of them. To work on climate change agenda, with special focus on mobilization and

engagement of stakeholders, GVces developed in 2012 the game Celsius: The Two-Degrees

Challenge.

Since then, Celsius has been played with at least 36

companies, three of them applied it with their

suppliers, 100 post-graduation students at FGV, 20

MBA students at Duquesne University, and 200

undergraduates at FGV. Moreover, the general

coordinator of GVces, Prof. Mario Monzoni,

presented the game at a conference at the Duquesne

University.

The game has proved to be effective in providing an

enriching experience when played with groups with

all levels of knowledge in the matter, from youths that

have just heard about climate change to experts in the

field. Throughout the rounds, the players, each one

representing a company, decide in which projects to

invest to generate value to their business considering,

at the same time, the greenhouse gas emissions that

have to be reduced though coordinated efforts. In

every occasion that Celsius was played, it fed great

discussions about the political and economic

challenges intrinsic to the climate change agenda, the

relevance to partner with and influence the public

sector, and the roles and responsibilities of the private

sector, government and society.

Inspired by this experience, the last component of this proposal is to develop a board game

about adaptation to climate change and disaster risk management that leads players to try, in a

short period of time, the reflections and decisions involved in the adaptation planning and

management of climate risks.

The Figure below summarizes our recommendations:

Images 1 and 2 | Celsius: The Two-

Degrees Challenge




Figure 5 – Summary of Recommendations

Source: Authors

The first steps to implement the recommendations are:

Further analyze the disaster risk management theoretical and practical basis to be

added to the EPC Framework and Tool for Business Adaptation Strategy.

Improve the Framework and Tool and issue new versions.

Engage faculty to debate the potential of strengthening adaptation to climate change

and disaster risk management content in their courses.

Create a working group to structure and detail the interdisciplinary adaptation

activity proposed in this paper.

7 Conclusions

This paper sought to present the current status of adaptation to climate change and disaster risk

management content in FGV´s Master in Sustainability Management, as well as make a series

of recommendations to increase this content in this existing program and in new offerings. The

recommendations presented here are in line with the literature review. By inserting content

developed through the research center, FGV indicates long-term institutional support,

legitimacy and validation for the study area (Christensen et al, 2007). Moreover, the three

dimensions of sustainable development (environmental, social and economic) should be

addressed simultaneously (UNESCO, 2004). In addition, adaptation and disaster risk

management content would be connected to economic performance, strategic decisions and

business operations, in an integrated manner (Russell, 2006).

The recommendations would also favor social learning because the discussions resulting from

the application of the Framework and the Tool would be expanded so that participants are

challenged to include and consider a wider stakeholder network (Reed et al., 2010). Specifically




Recommendation 2 will fall into Rusinko´s (2010) fourth quadrant, in which the integration of

sustainability occurs through new structures, but with a broader, cross-disciplinary focus,

including non-academic stakeholders.

Thus, the recommendations of this paper are based on our research experience on adaptation

and climate change risk within the business sector, as well as on the literature review on

management education and sustainability and disaster risk management. The opportunity to

make the proposed adjustment in the existing offering (MSM) will hopefully contribute to

prepare business managers to successfully manage and reduce climate change related disasters,

thus reducing overall losses due to inaction and/or mismanagement.

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for Disaster Risk Reduction. Available at http://www.unisdr.org/we/coordinate/sendai-

framework [Accessed on March 14, 2016]



https://www.unisdr.org/who-we-are/what-is-drr


9 Appendices

Appendix 1 – FGV Master in Sustainability Management, Subjects and Syllabuses

1. State of the World and Answers in the Legal and Institutional Fields

Presentation of the main current environmental issues. It is intended to demonstrate the

relationship between different economic cycles, the use of natural resources and impacts on

society and the environment, and the major challenges facing humanity to ensure the

maintenance and improvement of quality of life, in developed or developing countries. It lists

the set of legal and institutional responses at the multilateral level to address these challenges.

International conventions and treaties on environment, human rights and labor relations are

presented in evolution, as well as their incorporation into the Brazilian legal framework.

Finally, the subject relates social and environmental issues to international trade.

2. Context: Business and Sustainable Development

The discipline aims to discuss the different conceptions of development and sustainability, as

well as present the foundations of social and environmental responsibility in the context of

business organizations.

3. Economy and the Environment

Analysis of the relationship between environment and economic system based on neoclassical

environmental economics and the green economy. Reflection on the main differences and

limitations of these approaches. Introduction and discussion of relevant issues about economy

and the environment, for example, environmental policy instruments (instruments of direct

regulation and economic instruments) and the mechanisms of environmental management that

incorporate economic incentives.

4. Sustainability and Strategy

Analysis of the influence of aspects associated with sustainability in business competitiveness,

from the internal scenario of the organizations to the operation in international supply chains,

through an – incremental and disruptive – innovation agenda in products, production processes

and business models. Presentation of models that combine the increasing demand for

sustainability with business competitiveness.

5. Systemic Thinking

Presentation of a planning method based on systems dynamics and scientific and socio-

economic principles. Definitions of sustainability principles will be presented, using basic

science, the ABCD methodology of The Natural Step and backcasting, as well as case studies.

6. Corporate Governance

Examination and discussion of concepts and practices of good corporate governance and its

relationship to the strategy and business performance. Reflection about the relationship

between sustainability issues and decision-making processes at the companies’ senior

management.




7. Public Policies and Climate Change

The subject includes studies of the main problems related to climate change at the international

and national levels, focusing on the interface between economic development, mitigation and

adaptation to climate change and the key challenges and responses generated in the field of

public policy.

8. Accounting

Accounting importance: conceptualization and objectives; corporate and managerial

accounting; postulates, principles and conventions. Financial statements: introduction;

accounting mechanics; balance sheet; statement of changes in equity.

9. Controllership

Review of significant accounting reports published: Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Statement,

and Cash Flow Statement. Presentation of the Value-Added Statement. Application of financial

analysis techniques to a publicly-traded company, exemplifying the use of indicators obtained

from accounting reports. Use of value creation indicators (economic profit). Description of

assets and liabilities not recorded. Presentation of the Balanced Scorecard, which allows the

incorporation of goals and sustainability indicators into the management of organizations.

10. Stakeholder Engagement and Value Chain

Presentation of all the models and standards of sustainability management, focusing on the

management of relationships with stakeholders. Examination and discussion of ways to assess

the materiality of sustainability issues, with tools such as social auditing and standardization of

sustainability management. Overview of standards and certifications, such as AA1000 and ISO

26000. Models and stakeholder engagement processes: AA1000 and AA1000SES.

11. Environmental Management: from Environmentalism to Sustainability in

Business

The course introduces environmental concepts necessary for the full understanding of corporate

environmental management, such as natural resources, biodiversity, ecosystems, environmental

services and pollution. It shows the development of environmental strategies in business

organizations, their motivating factors and trends. Key approaches and environmental

management tools in companies will be studied, analyzing their potential, weaknesses and

major gaps in relation to sustainability management. The following topics will be addressed: i)

the environmental impact assessment (EIA); ii) inventories of pollution sources (including

greenhouse gases); iii) ecological footprint and derivatives (water footprint, forest footprint,

carbon footprint); iv) life cycle analysis (LCA); v) eco-efficiency, pollution prevention, cleaner

production (CP), industrial ecology; and vi) environmental management systems.

12. Strategic Management

Examination and discussion of sustainability issues that can be placed in strategic business

decisions. The results of such decisions will be discussed based on the financial analysis of

companies, with an emphasis on business viability in the long run. It begins with an introduction

to the concept of strategy, its historical evolution and the industry analysis model. It then covers

a resource-based view, the evolution of that view, the issue of creating shareholder value and

sustainability, cost of capital, discounted cash flow, and finally, valuation of companies.

13. Integrated Management Systems of Corporate Sustainability




Identification of the key elements in the planning and implementation of integrated

management systems of corporate sustainability; comparative analysis of consolidated

management models with emerging models or in diffusion process (Sigma Project, Global

Compact Management Model, ISO 26000 and others). Development of skills necessary for

selection and integration of models, methods and tools for sustainability management.

14. Local Development

Introduction to local development concepts. Analysis of the integration of large enterprises into

small towns. Reflection on dynamics and strategies of interaction between business,

government and local communities. Opportunities, tools and conditions for local development.

15. Consumption and Marketing

Presents the history of the consumer society, its evolution into a hyper-consumption society

and the impact on life quality and the environment. Discusses the concepts of green

consumption, conscious consumption and sustainable consumption. Develops the debate on the

role of consumers, non-governmental organizations, governments, businesses and social

movements as transformation actors of the current model of economic development, with a

view to promoting sustainable consumption actions. Discusses the role of Marketing in modern

society, in relation to ethics and environmental issues, green, social, environmental marketing.

It introduces the concepts of creating niche markets for sustainable products and goods.

Develops the architectural concepts of brands that use environmental sustainability as an

additional brand value.

16. Sustainable Finance and Impact Investment

Discussion of the impacts generated by financial institutions in society, and examination of

how sustainability affects financial institutions, investors and creditors. Historical aspects and

a motion analysis in financial institutions in Brazil and abroad, the risks hanging over the

banking sector, with special emphasis on the Equator Principles and environmental policies.

Discussions about the economic value of socially responsible investments and benchmarks are

also included.

17. Research Methodology

The rules for developing a final research report; brief history of scientific research; the scientific

method; the components of a scientific work; the structure and formatting of an academic work.

18. Negotiation Workshop

Introduction to negotiation; mutual gains approach; public dispute resolution; negotiation

features. Consensus building: approaches to consensus building; positional bargaining and

impasse; managing difficult conversations, joint fact finding, competition and game theory.




Appendix 2 – Initial exercise comparing the concepts and terminology of disaster risk management

and adaptation to climate change.

1) Which disasters9 can be caused or intensified by climate change?

Hazards – PreventionWeb Can be intensified by climate

change?

Category as it appears in

EPC Tool

Avalanche Yes Climate event

Cold snap Yes Climate event

Cyclone Yes Climate event

Drought Yes Climate event

Earthquake No -

Epidemic and Pandemic Yes Impact

Inundation Yes Climate event

Heat wave Yes Climate event

Insect Infestation Yes Impact

Landslide Yes Impact

NBC – Nuclear, Biological,

Chemical Disaster No -

Storm Surge Yes Climate event

Technical Disaster No -

Tornado Yes Climate event

Tsunami No -

Volcano No -

Wild Fire Yes Impact

2) Comparison between terminologies in EPC Tool and PreventionWeb10.

Some terms in the EPC Tool glossary Terminology in PreventionWeb

Adaptation Yes

Adaptive Capacity As “capacity”

Exposure Yes

Impact No

Danger Yes

Resilience Yes

Risk Yes

Sensitivity No

Vulnerability Yes

9 Source: http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hazards/. Visited on March 16, 2016. 10 Source: http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/terminology/. Visited on March 16, 2016.



http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hazards/

http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/terminology/

GVces – Av. 9 de Julho, 2029 11º andar – CEP 01313-902 – São Paulo – SP

Tel: 55-11-3799-3342 | E-mail: [email protected] | www.fgv.br/ces

Appendix 3 – Inputs from MSM´s subjects to the adaptation to climate change planning

Framework that will be implemented in the interdisciplinary activity proposed.



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